Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026

This bill, titled the "Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2026," seeks to enhance the availability of physical therapy services, particularly in underserved regions. It achieves this by integrating physical therapists into the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program, making them eligible for loan repayment in exchange for service in high-need areas. The legislation also mandates the identification of specific physical therapy health professional target areas within existing health professional shortage areas to strategically deploy these professionals.

To support this expansion, the bill allocates an additional $15,000,000 for physical therapists participating in the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Furthermore, it significantly broadens Medicare coverage by including physical therapy services furnished by a physical therapist as part of services offered by Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers. This Medicare expansion is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, aiming to improve patient access to essential physical therapy care.